Feeding device for vial machines



Aug. 5 1924., 1,503,585

B. T. HEADLEY ET AL.

FEEDING DEVICE FOR VIAL MACHYNES Original Filed Nov. 15. 1919iS'SfieetS-Sneet 1 Aug." 5, 1924. 7 1,503,585 V B. T. HEADLEY ET ALFEEDING DEVICE FOR VIAL MACBINES Original Filed Nov. 15. 1919 I5Shets-Sheet 2 Aug. 5 1924.

B. T. HEADLEY ET AL FEEDING DEVICE FOR VI AL MACHINES I 5 Sheets-Sheet.5 I

Original Filed Nov. 15.

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Patented Aug. 5, 1924:,

BENJAMIN T. HEADLEY, 0F IVIILLVILLE, NEW JERSEY, AND PARKE I-I.THOMPSON, DE-

CEASED, LATE OF MILLVILLE, NEW JERSEY; BY RENA M. THOMPSON, EXECUTRIX,

AND DAVID IREVIN DU BOIS, 0F MILLVILLE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNORS 'IO WHIT-ALL-TATU'M. COMPANY, OF MILLVILLE, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEWJERSEY.

FEEDING DEVICE FOR VIAL MACHINES.

, Original application filed November 15, 1918, Serial No. 338,179.Divided and this application filed.

January 26, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that BENJAMIN T. HEADLEY, PARKE H. THOMPSON, deceased (whoseexecutrix is RENA M. THOMPSON), and DAvn) IRVIN DU Bors, all citizens ofthe United States, residing at Millville, in the county of Cumberlandand State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improve ment inFeeding Devices for Vial Machines, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description.

The present invention relates broadly to feed devices for vial-workingmachines, and more particularly to a hopper feed for vialbottomingmachines.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a form offeed device adapted to contain a plurality of vial blanks for deliveryto a vial-bottoming or other machine, and adapted to feed the blanks asrequired. a

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hopper feeddevice adapted to receive vial blanks directly from a necking machineand retain the same in position to be fed to a bottoming machine asrequired.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable hopperadapted to receive and hold a plurality of vial blanks.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hopperfeed devicehaving means for gradually feeding the blanks in timed relation to theoperation of the machine to which they are fed.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a hopper feeddevice having a discharge chute with means for controlling the passageof blanks thereto.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a discharge chute ofthe characterdescribed which is adjustable to accommodate blanks ofdifierent lengths, and which co-operate with a guard insuring properdelivery of the blanks to the vial working machine.

The foregoing and other objects of the present invention, together withtheir attendant advantages, will be apparent as the invention becomesbetter understood by reference to the accompanying specification SerialNo. 440,115.

and drawings forming a part thereof, it being premised that changes maybe made in the various details and manner of operation within the scopeof the appended claims without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective'view of the hop per feed device;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line II+'II of Figure 3;

Figure 3 is a side view of one end of a vial bottoming machine havingthe hopper applied thereto;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the mechanism disclosed inFigure 3, and also illustrating a portion of a vial necking machine;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a necked blank of the type which may befed by the hopper to the bottoming machine, and

' Figure 6 isa view corresponding to Figure 5 of a straight blank forwide mouthed bottles.

.wheels 3 over each of which passes an endless carrier 4. The endlesscarriers and sprocket wheels 3 lie in the same horizontal plane andtherefore only one of each appears in the drawings. These carriers arepreferably flexible, and may comprise link belts or chains, havingsecured to certain of the links thereof blank carriers 5 of any desiredconstruction adapted to receive the vial blanks B.' It will beunderstood that in machines of this nature, the endless carriers aremoved to successively bring the different blank supports withtheirblanks thereon first to 'a plurality of heating stations and thereafterto separating and bottoming stations as is customary in the art.

As the construction of the vial working machine constitutes no essentialfeature of the present invention, it is not illustrated in detail, butmay bebuilt in accordance with the disclosure of our co-pendingapplication, Serial No. 338,179, filed November 15, 1919, of which thisis a division. The present application involves more particularly thefeeding of the vial blanks to the blank supports on the endless carrier,and this mechanism will now be described in detail.

This feed mechanism preferably corn prises a hopper having an inclinedbottom '6, with one fixed side 7 and an adjustable side 8. Any desiredmeans, such as brackets 9, having suitably slotted openings formedtherein, may be provided "for accomplishing this adjustment toaccommodate the hopper to vial blanks B of different lengths.

l t will be anparent that the blanks may be manually p aced in thehopper, although it is preferably constructed of such length that theopen receiving end thereof may co-ope-rate directly with the ejectionopening 10 of a vial necking machine 11, asshown in Figure 4. Thedelivery end 01"? the hopper extends over the receiving end of thebottoming machine, and may be supported on any suitable bracket 12carried by the frame 1 of the machine.

Below the bottom 6 of the hop-per are a series of bars 13 and 14, whichbars are provided with upwardly extending lingers 15 projecting throughopenings 16 in the bottom of the hopper. The bars 13 have a connection17 with one end of each of the T or walking levers 18, while the bars 14have a similar connection 19 with the opposite ends of the levers 18.Both of these levers have pivotal supports 20 and are formed withdownwardly extending arms 2i connected by a link 22 which insures thewalk- .ing levers moving in unison. For oscillating the levers toproduce the desired feeding movement of the fingers 15. one of thepivots 20 may be provided with crank arm 23 having a pivotal connectionwith a link 24, carried by a lever 25 pivotally supported at 26 on abracket 27 secured to the main frame 1 of the bottoming machine. Theforwardly projecting end of the lever 25 carries a roller 28 adapted tocooperate with a ram 29 on a longitudinally extend i-ng shaft 30 of thebottoming machine. lhis shaft may be rotated in any desired manner, notshown, for operating the lever 25.

Extending rearwardly from. the bracket 2-? is a seat 31 having aprojection 32 thereon, adapted to receive a compression spring 33, theopposite end of which surrounds a similar projection 34 on the lever 25.It will ,now be apparent that the cam 29 periodically operates the lever25,' through the mechanism described, against the action of thecompression spring 33 to lower the bars 14; and raise the bars 13. Assoon as the high point on the cam passes from engagenent with the roller28, the compression spring will function to raise the bars 1% andlowerthe bars 13 to their original positions. ilach operation of thischaracter will release the vial blanks from engagement with the fingers15 n one or" the bars and pcrinit the same to roll along the hopperbottom into engagement with the next series of fingers. By means of thisconstruction and operation, a gradual teed of blanks is insured, and therate of feed may be so controlled that the hopper operates in timedrelation both with the necking machine and the bottoming machine.

At its delivery end, the hopper may he provided with a chute 35 adaptedto deliver the blanks directly onto the supports on the endless carriersat of the bottoming machine. Passage of the blanks to the chute may becontrolled by means of a sliding gate 36 .rcciprocated by a bar 37suitably secured thereto and extending transversely of the hopperthrough elongated openings 38 in the opposite sides thereof. Theopposite ends of the bar 37-are in turn suitably secured to one end ofthe lever 39 each having a pivotal mounting 40 for their opposite ends.Intermediate their ends the levers are joined to pitman rods 41 securedto a transversely extending operating member l2. This operating membermay in turn be con nected to one ot the T levers 18 so the gate -36 willbe elevated and lowered in accord ance with the movement of said lever.

The chute 35 may also be provided with a stationary side 43 and anadjustable side 44:. There is also preferably provided a guard l-i)carried by the bracket 46 tor preventing the vial blanks from beingdelivered bcyond the supports 5.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate clearly types of blanks adapted to beoperated upon by the bottoming machine ted thereto by the hopper. Theblanks shown in Fignree are adapted for the production of widemouthedvials.

It will be apparent that the provision of a hopper of this nature makesit possible to use the vial bottoming n'ia"hine independently of thenecking machine. \Vhen this is done, the vial blanks, either necked orun necked, may be manually placed in the hopper and the operation of thenicchanisn'i employed in connection therewith will insure an orderlydelivery oi the same.

The present invention is a division oi our copending application, SerialNo. 338,179, filed November 15, 1919.

The advantages of the present invention arise from the provision of afeed mechanism adapted to cooperate both with a necking machine and abottoming machine to insure the proper transfer of the vial blanks.

Further advantages of the present inven tion arise from the provision ofa hopper adapted to receive a plurality of vial blanks and feed the sameone by one in time sequence as required.

We claim: l

1. A hopper feed device for vial bottoming machines, comprising an.inclined bottom, means for delivering vial blanks thereto, means forretarding the travel of said blanks over said bottom, a discharge chuteand means controlling the passage of the vial blanks through said chute,substantially as described.

2. A hopper feed device for vial bottoming machines, comprising aninclined bottom member having a series of openings therein, a series ofbars below said bottom having fingers extending through said openinns,and means for alternately operating said bars to restrict the feed ofblanks through said hopper, substantially as described.

3. A hopper feed device for vial working machines, comprising aninclined bottom having a series of openings therein, bars below saidbottom having fingers adapted to project through said openings, andmeans for alternately oppositely 0perating said bars to alternatelyraise certain of said fingers and lower other of said fingers,substantially as described.

4;. A hopper feed device for vial working machines, comprising aninclined bottom, a fixed side cooperating therewith, an adjustable sidecooperating therewith, a discharge chute for said hopper, and a guardcooperating with said chute, substantially as described.

5. A hopper feed device for vial working machines, comprising aninclined bottom, a fixed side cooperating therewith, an adjustable sidecooperating therewith, a discharge chute for said hopper, a guard cooperating with said chute, and an adjustable side for said chute,substantially as described.

6. A hopper feed device for vial working machine's, comprising aninclined bottom, a fixed side cooperating there-with, an adjustable sidecooperating therewith, a discharge chute for said hopper, and areciprocable gate controlling the feed to said chute, substantially asdescribed.

7 A hopper feed device of the character described, comprising a bottom,sides cooperating therewith, means for adjusting one of said sides tochange the width of the hopper, a plurality of fingers adapted to beprojected above said bottom, and means for alternately raising certainof said fingers and simultaneously lowering other' of said fingers,substantially as described.

8. A hopper feed device of the character described, comprising a bottomhaving openings therein, bars below said bottom, a lever having anintermediate pivotal mounting and connected on opposite sides of saidmounting with alternate bars, means for oscillating said lever, andfingers on said bars adapted to ext-end through said openings,substantially as described.

9. A hopper feed device of the character described, comprising a bottomhaving openings therein, bars below said bottom, a lever having anintermediate pivotal mounting and connected on opposite sides of saidmounting with alternate bars, means for oscillating said lever, a springfor returning said lever to its original position, and fingers on saidbars adapted to extend through said openings, substantially as described.

10. A hopper feed device of the character described, comprising aninclined bottom having a series of openings therein, bars below saidbottom provided with fingers adapted to be projected through saidopenings, means for holding one of said bars normally in raised positionand one of said bars normally in lowered position, and means forreversing the positions of said bars, substantially as described.

11. A hopper feed device of the character described, comprising aninclined bottom having a series of openings therein,

' bars below said bottom provided with fingers adapted to be projectedthrough said openings, resilient means for holding one of said barsnormally in raised position and one of said bars normally in loweredposition, and means for reversing the positions of said bars,substantially as described.

12. A hopper feed device of the character described, comprising aninclined bottom having a series of openings therein, bars below saidbottom provided with fingers adapted to be projected through saidopenings, means for holding one of said bars normally in raised positionand one of said bars normally in lowered position, and means forperiodically reversing the positions of said bars, substantially asdescribed.

18. A hopper feed device of the character described, comprising aninclined bottom having a series of openings therein, bars below saidbottom provided with fingers adapted to be projected through saidopenings, means for holding one of said bars normally in raised positionand one of said bars normally in lowered position, means for reversinthe position of said bars, and a gate controlling the feed from saiddevice, substantially as described.

14. A hopper feed device of the character described, comprising aninclined bottom having a series of openings therein, bars below saidbottom provided with fingers adapted to be projected through saidopenings, means for holding one of said bars normally in raised positionand one of sand bars normally 1n lowered posltlon, means for reverslngthe pos1t1on of sa1d In testimony whereof, We have hereunto set. ourhands.

' .L' BENJAMIN T 'HEADLEY. bars and a gate cont-rolhng the LBBd from v Tsaid device, said gate being operated in RENA THOMPSOI" unison With saidbars. substantially as de Ewecutm'w 0f Pmke Thompson Deceased scribed.DAVID IRVIN DU BOTS,

